Fence-post.



No. 688,949. Patented Dec. l7, I901. H. B. HITPAS.

FENCE POST.

(Application filed Tu 1y 9, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Mill")!!! @M No. 688,949. Patented Dec. I7, 190".

H. B. HITPAS.

FENCE POST.

(Applicatiun filed July 9, 1901'.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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HENRY B. HITPAS, OF MASON, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,949, dated December 17, 1901.

Serial No. 67,584. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it nuty concern;

Be it known that I, HENRYB. HITPAS, a ci tizen of the United States, residing at Mason, in the county of Effingham, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fence-posts; and it has for its object to provide a simple,cheap, and durable fence-post that may be made of steel or other metal and which will have such construction as will permit of ready attachment and detachment of fencewires and wherein, moreover, the wires will be held securely in their attached positions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is an elevation showing one side of a post constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the opposite side of the post from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the post, taken through the operating-eccentric. Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the two plates of the post disconnected. Fig. 5 is a view showing a corner-post embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the post comprises two plates 5 and 6, of which the plate 5 is broadened at its lower end to form a web for attachment of a base 5. This base consists of a section of iron pipe which is slotted longitudinally at one end and in this slot is received the web of the plate 5.

sides of the section of pipe are then flattened against the web and are riveted fast. The plate 6 is of the same general shape as the plate 5, with the exception that it has not the broadened lower end andis somewhat shorter than the plate 5.

In one edge of the plate 5 are formed a series of recesses 7, which range first inwardly at right angles to the edge of the plate and then downwardly and parallel with the edge,

The

l and these recesses are of such dimensions as.

to permit them to receive and hold the fencewires whether of a stay-fence or of a woven fence.

The plate 6 is provided for locking the wires in the recesses in the plate 5, and this plate 6 has likewise recesses extending inwardly from one edge of the plate in the same manner as do the recesses or slots 7; but the inner ends thereof range upwardly instead of downwardly, these recesses or slots being shown at 8. Thus if the plate 6 be placed against the face of the plate 5 and then prop' erly adjusted the inwardly-ranging portions of the slots or recesses of one plate will register with those of the other and the fencewires may be passed thereinto. By moving the plate 6 then downwardly the wires are permitted to drop into the downwardly-ranging portions of the slots 7 to rest upon the bottoms thereof, and by further moving the plate 6 downwardly the upper ends of the slots 8' are brought into engagement with the wires in the slots in the plate 5 and the wires are held securely and are prevented from rising and passing from the slots of the plates. If the plate 6 be then raised, the slots of the two plates will be brought into alinement or registration and the wires may be easily removed.

In order to shift the plate 6, a bearing-opening 9 is formed therein adjacent to its top, and in this opening is disposed a disk 10, having a handle 11 for oscillating it in the opening, and eccentric of the disk is a perforation, through which is engaged a bolt or pin 12, which is likewise engaged with a perforation in the upper portion of the. plate 5, so that when the disk is oscillated the plate 6 will be raised and lowered.

To hold the plates in proper relation-that is, face to face-the plate 5 has a perforation 13 near its lower end, and through this perforation is engaged a bolt 14, 011 which is disposed a collar 15, the collar lying in an elongated slot 16 in the plate 6, from which it is held from displacement by the washer 17, which is engaged with the bolt, between the head thereof and the sleeve on the bolt. With this construction it will be seen that by operating the eccentric the plates will be operated to open or close the slots to permit of application or removal of the wires or to hold them securely in place.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings the invention is shown as applied to a corner-post, the post consisting of a plate 20, bent to form the two wings 21 and 22, which stand at right angles to each other and each of which wings is pro vided with slots 23 at its outer edge, which ex- 'tend first inwardly and then downwardly. The locking-plate 24 is likewise angular and has inwardly and then upwardly directed slots 25 at its free edges, which are adapted to register with the slots of the first plate. While the wings of the locking plate are slotted at their lower ends, as shown at 26, to receive the attachingbolts, there is only one eccentric 27 required for both wings, and thus the wires at both sides of a corner-post are securely locked or are unlocked by a single operation.

It will be understood that in practice modifications of the specific constructions shown may be made and that any suitable materials and proportions may be used for the various parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is A fence-post comprising plates slidably con nected and having slots extending inwardly from their edges and then longitudinally in opposite directions, the inwardly-extending portions of the slots of one plate being adapted for registration with the corresponding portions of the slots of the other plate, said plates having communicating perforations of diiferent diameters and lying out of axial alinement, a disk mounted in the larger perforation and having an eccentric-pin engaged with the smaller perforation to shift the latter when the disk is oscillated, and connections between the plates at their opposite ends to hold them against lateral displacement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. HI'IPAS.

Witnesses:

A. J WORMAN, GEO. HOGAN. 

